Leather-treating machine.



No. 798,678. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. L. J. HIRT.

LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.29.1902.

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PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

L. J. HIRT. LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

AYPLIOATION FILED DEO.29. 1902.

3 BHBBTS-SHEET 2.

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WITNESSES- N0- 798,6'78. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. L. J. HIRT.

LEATHER TREATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILED DBO.29,1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES- lph/E TOP\ P i W W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS .I. I-IIRT, OF BROOKLINE, VASSAOHUSETTS, ASSIHNOR TO THE TURNERTANNING I\I.\OI"IINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATIONOF HAINE.

LEATHER-TREATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

l (17] whom, it 7rtm1 cmwe7'n:

Be it known thatI, LoUIs J. Hn-rr, of Brookline, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Leather -Treating Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has relation to machines for treating hides, skins, andleather, relating more particularly to that type of machines in which aplurality of work tables or supports is mounted upon an endless carrierand successively presented to the action of working members whichperform the desired functions with relation to the work. The particularform of the members depends upon the exact nature of the treatment towhich the hide or skin is to be subjected.

A skin is usually irregular in shape and is provided with four elongatedleg portions and with a neck portion, and in machines of the characterreferred to the skin is folded over the end or edge of each support soas to lie against the two sides thereof, said skin being folded along aline connecting the neck portion with the tail portion. Therefore inorder to properly treat the skin, whether it be in the operation ofputting out, seasoning, or

otherwise, it is desirable that the skin should be properly stretched inlines at an angle acute to the edge over which the skin is folded.

This invention has for its object the provision of a machine in whichthe operating members during their engagement with the work willproperly stretch the skin and remove wrinklcs therefrom. To this end theoperating members are preferably movable in lines longitudinal of theskin or of the edge over which the skin is folded, and inasmuch as theskin support or table moves relatively thereto the result of thecombined motion is that the skin is stretched and the shank or legportions are laid flat upon the table freed from wrinkles. In order thatthis action may be accomplished upon both ends of the skin, the machineillustrated upon the accompanying drawings as an embodiment of the invention is provided with two members for each face of the table, saidmembers being oppositely movable.

of the said members laterally of the path of movement of the tables,although on the ac- Any desired mechanism may be employed foraccomplishing the movement eompanying drawings a mechanism suitable forthe purpose is illustrated.

Referring to said drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of themachine cmbodying the invention, the lower portion being broken away.Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same with the bearing bracketremoved. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a section on the line a a of Fig. 3.

On the drawings, 10 11 represent end standards in which is journaled atransverse shaft 12, having driving-sprockets 13. Similar in dependentsprockets 14: 1a are mounted on stud-shafts 15, placed in adjustablebearings or boxes at the upper ends of the standards, as shown.Stretched between the sprockets, 13 and 14: are endless chains 16, whichconstitute an endless carrier for a plurality of two-faced tables orsupports 17. Each table or support may be made of impervious material ifthe working members be adapted for applying seasoning to the skin, orthe tables may be covered with cushioning material if the members areadapted to put out the skin. The operative end or edge of each table isrounded so that the skin or hide may be folded thereovcr to lie againstthe two faces or sides thereof.

The shaft 12 may be driven by any suitable means. As shown in Fig. 2, itis equipped with a sprocket-wheel 18, to which power may be applied bymeans of a sprocket-wheel from a counter-shaft.

Two pairs of working members are employed for treating the skin on eachside or face of the table or support. In the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention these members are adapted for supplying seasoning to theskin and rubbing it thereinto; but it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to the particular form of members which hasbeen illustrated. Each working member, as shown, consists of a pluralityof operative blades or edges supported upon shafts. 20 21 23 indicatethe shafts upon which the members are mounted. These shafts arejournaled in the side standards 10 11 and are actuated by gearing fromthe shaft 12, the gearing being so arranged that the shafts .20 21v andthe shafts 22 23 are driven ment of the blades during their operativestroke is opposite to the direction of movement of the tables orsupports.-

Briefly described, the mechanism for rotating the shafts 2O 21 comprisesthe inter-meshing gears 25 26, the gear 27 intcrmeshing with the gear26, and a gear 28 on a shaft 12 driving the gear 27. For rotating shafts22 23 the gearing includes the two gears 29 30, which inter-mesh, asillustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the gear 31, which is drivenby sprocket mechanism from the shaft 12, as indicated in dotted lines inFigs. 1 and 2.

The shafts 20 to 23, inclusive, are longitudinally movable, andtherefore in order that the gearing may constantly intermesh the gears31 and 2'7 are axially elongated, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the gears26 and 29 may be moved axially relatively thereto without beingdisengaged during the reciprocatory movement of the shafts 20 to 23,inclusive. For the purpose of actuating the said shafts any suitablemechanism may be employed. A simple form is illustrated upon thedrawings, comprising cams on the work tables or supports adapted toengage and actuate levers in operative engagement with collars on thesaid shafts. Having reference to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be observed thatfulcrumed on brackets 41, projecting inward from the standards 10 and11, are levers 42 42 43 43. The levers 42 are engaged with collars 44,fast on the shafts 22 23. The inner ends of said levers 42 43 areadapted to be engaged by cams on the two faces of the tables orsupports. A suitable shape for said cams is shown in Fig. 1. The camsfor the levers 42 are mounted near one edge of the table, while thosefor the levers 43 are mounted at the opposite edge. The cams forefiecting the operative outer stroke of the shafts 20 21 are indicatedat 46, and those for returning the shafts to initial position areindicated at 47. The cams for reciprocating the shafts 22 23 areindicated at 48 49, respectively. The cams are so formed as to engagethe collars 44 to reciprocate the shafts to the proper extent and at theproper speed.

The blades which constitute the several working members are indicated at50. Each blade where it is adapted for use in a seasoning mechanism iscovered with cushioning material, as indicated. Each working membercomprises, in addition to the blade, a drum or other equivalent deviceupon which the blades are mounted to revolve. As shown, however, eachdrum is formed in sections 52, secured to the shaft on which they aremounted so as to rotate therewith. The blades constituting each workingmembei" break joint, as shown. In addition the blades of one workingmember (as that carried by shaft. 23)

' overlap the blades forming the working member on the shaft 22.Arranged in this manner, the overlapping blades serve to properly engageand treat the skin lying upon the end of the table.

The mechanism for supplying seasoning material to the working members isshown only in Fig. 3, it being omitted from Figs. 1, 2, and 4 to preventconfusion and to permit simple illustration. The mechanism comprises ineach case a roll 60, journaled so as to be partially submerged in a bathof seasoning material contained within a receptacle 61. The rolls are soarranged that during the rotation of the working members the blades 50thereof may engage with the roll and be more or less impregnated withthe seasoning material, so that they may properly apply it to the skinon the table and rub it thereinto. As indicated in Fig. 3, the blades 50are capable of yielding when they strike the hide.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood. The carrierpresents the tables successively'to the members, and as it passes upwardbetween the two lower members the latter are moved in one direction bythe engagement of the cams 46 with the levers 43. The upper workingmembers are moved in the opposite direction by the engagement of thecams 48 with the levers 42. After each pair of members has operated uponthe work and has by a movement diagonal to the faces properly stretchedthe leg portions of the skin they are returned to initial position bythe cams 47 49 engaging the levers 43 42. To steady the tables as theyare passing between the lower working members, the rolls 7O may beemployed, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way ofconstructing and using the same, although without attempts ing tosetforth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes ofits use, I declare that what I claim is i l. A leather-treating machinecomprising a work-support, a rotary working member having its axis ofrotation substantially parallel with the surface of said support, andmechanism for effecting a relative movement of said support and saidmember both longitudinally and transversely of said support, thedirection of the working movement being away from the point where thetreatment of the piece of leather begins, whereby a stretching effectwill be produced.

2. A leather-treating machine comprising a two-faced support over oneedge of which the work may be folded, a working member on each side ofsaid support, and mechanism for effecting a relative movement of theworking members and said support in lines at an inclination to said edgeof said support and diagonal to the face of said support.

3. A leather-treating machine comprising a work-support having a flatface adapted to receive the work, a rotary working member having itsaxis of rotation substantially parallel with the surface of saidsupport, and mechanism for effecting a relative movement of saidoppositely-disposed bladed working members member and said support in aplane parallel between which the support is adapted to be to said faceand in lines diagonal thereof, the receivml, mechanism for effecting arelative 5 direction of the working moven'ient being movement of saidsupportaml said members,

away from the point where the treatment of and mechanism for moving themembers of the piece of leather begins, whereby a stretcheach pair inopposite directions in lines transing effect will be produced. verse tothe lines of the first-mentioned move- A. A leatller-treating machinecomprisinga ment. 55 work-support having a face adapted to receive 9. Aleather-treating machine comprising a IO the work, a rotary workingmember having two-faced work-receiving table, two pairs of its axis ofrotation substantially parallel with oppositely-disposed bladed workingmembers the surface of said support, mechanism for between which thesupport is adapted to be moving the work -support, mechanism forreceived for effecting a relative movementof 66 moving the workingmember laterally relasaid support and said members, mechanism 5 tivelyto the path of movement of the workfor moving the members of each pairin opposupport, and means for rotating said member site directions inlines transverse to the lines in a direction to cause its workingsurface to of thelirst-mentioned movement, and mechantravel in adirection opposite to the direction ism for actuating said members tobring the 5 of movement of the work-support. blades thereof successivelyto working posi- A leather-treating machine comprising a tion.

support having a work-receiving face, a rotary 10. A leather-treatingmachine comprising a working member having a plurality of blades seriesof work-suppmfs, each having a llat or edges to successively engage andtreat the face, an endless carrier for said supports, a 7 work, andmechanism for effecting a relative rotary working member having'aplurality of 5 movement of the entire working member and blades oredges, said members being movable said supportin lines diagonal to saidface and on an axis transverse to the path of movein planes parallel tosaid face. ment of the supports, mechanism for rotating 6. Aleather-treating machine comprising a said member, and mechanism formoving said 75 sup port having a work-receiving face, a rotary memberaxially. 3 working member having a plurality of blades ll.Aleather-treatingmachine comprisinga or edges to successively engage andtreat the series of work-supports each having a flat work, mechanism foractuating said blades, face, an endless carrier for said supports, a andmechanism for effecting a relative Inoverotary working member having aplurality 80 ment of the entire working member and said of blades oredges covered with material for support in lines diagonal to said faceand in applying seasoning to the work, each member planes parallel tosaid face. being movable on an axis transverse to the T. Aleather-treating machine comprising a j path of movement of thesupports, mechansupport having a work-receiving face, a pair i is'm forrotating said member, mechanism for 5 moving said member axially, andmeans for supplying seasoning to said member.

In testimony whereof lliave affixed mysignaturein presence of twowitnesses.

LOUIS J. I'IIRT.

Witnesses:

M. B. MAY, Gnonon l). liALL.

S. Aleather-treating machine comprising a two-faced work-receivingtable, two pairs of l

